Man's peace: 400,000 men are exposed to relationship violence every year

Psychological violence is the most common form of violence in close relationships, both among women and men. In 2022, 11.4 percent of men reported to the Crime Prevention Council, Brå, that they had been subjected to some type of violence by a partner or ex-partner. Women are overall more vulnerable, but men are also affected by, for example, control, threats and violations. According to Brå, few men stated that they reported any incident to the police.

- Men find it difficult to see themselves as victims, their vulnerability must not take place in the debate, says Magnus Falkman.

Few crimes are prosecuted

The man we call "Mattias" feels vindicated after his wife was convicted of gross breach of the peace in the Värmland district court. She denied the crime and the sentence has been appealed.

Convictions for violence against male partners are unusual: of roughly 4,000 reported cases of assault against men in a close relationship last year, only eight percent were prosecuted, according to figures from Brå.

"Woman's story gets interpretative priority"

Mansfrid works to make relational violence against men visible. Falkman points in particular to the judiciary, where he thinks there is ignorance.

- When the man reports to the police, our opinion is that the woman often counter-reports and that her story often takes precedence.

However, Judge David Harrby at the Värmland district court does not believe that it is necessary for more training within the legal system regarding men who are exposed to violence in close relationships. Hear him explain why in the clip below.